Tool for squeezing out high-viscosity liquid from tube container

ABSTRACT

A tool for squeezing out a high-viscosity liquid from a flexible plastic tube container includes a spool having a slot in which the bottom of the tube container is received and locked, and a container holder having a pair of opposed bearing portions frictionally and rotatably supporting thereon a body of the spool, and a pair of opposed engagement portions engageable with a body of the tube container as the tube container is wound on the spool body from the bottom thereof. When a rotational force or torque on the spool is released, the spool is urged to rotate in the reverse direction by a resilient force stored in a portion of the flexible plastic tube container wound on the spool body. However, partly due to a friction acting between the spool body and the bearing portions, and partly due to the engagement between one of the engagement portions and the tube container, the spool is held immovable relative to the container holder against the resilient force of the tube container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a squeezing tool used in combinationwith a tube container of a high-viscosity liquid, such as a sealant, anadhesive, a grease or a tooth paste, for squeezing out thehigh-viscosity liquid from a spout of the tube container.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventionally, when a sealant is used as a joint sealant for bathrooms, sash windows, for example, the sealant composed of ahigh-viscosity liquid is filled in a tube container made of metal suchas aluminum or lead, and after which a squeezing nozzle is fitted with aspout of the tube container for completely and neatly sealing a narrowpart with the sealant.

However, partly because the nozzle is tapered and has a small dischargehole, and partly because the sealant is composed of a high-viscosityliquid as stated above, a large pressure or force must be exerted on thetube container in order to squeeze out the sealant from the tubecontainer. In addition, the sealant must be squeezed out entirely fromthe tube container to avoid wastage. Taking these demands into account,it has been a known practice to use a squeezing tool for facilitatingsqueezing of the sealant from the tube container. The known squeezingtool includes a spool having a slot in which a bottom of the tubecontainer is received and locked, and a grip portion or handleintegrally formed with the spool for rotating the spool. The squeezingtool as attached to the tube container winds up the tube container onthe spool from the bottom of the tube container during which time thetube container is compressed and hence the sealant is squeezed out fromthe tube container through the nozzle.

In recent years, from the point of view of aesthetical appearance andutility, the metallic tube containers have been replaced by flexibleplastic tube containers such as laminated tubes or polyethylene tubes.In the case where the known squeezing tool is used with the flexibleplastic tube containers, the grip portion of the squeezing tool ismanipulated to rotate the spool in one direction for winding up theflexible plastic tube container from the bottom thereof, so that asealant is squeezed out from the flexible plastic tube container.However, when the grip portion is released, the spool and the gripportion (i.e., the tool itself) is forced to rotate in the oppositedirection due to the resiliency of the flexible plastic tube container.The flexible plastic tube container is unwound from the spool,accordingly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art in view, it is an objectof this invention to provide a tool for squeezing out a high-viscosityliquid from a flexible plastic tube container without causing unwindingof the flexible plastic tube container even when a winding force torqueexerted on a spool of the tool is released.

According to this invention, there is provided a tool for squeezing outa high-viscosity liquid from a soft plastic tube container, the toolcomprising: a spool having a longitudinal slot for receiving and lockingtherein the bottom of the soft plastic tube container; and a containerholder for holding therein the tube container, the container holderbeing composed of a pair of opposed bearing portions frictionally androtatably supporting the spool, and a pair of opposed engagementportions integral with the bearing portions and engageable with the tubecontainer to keep the tube container immovable against rotation about alongitudinal axis of the spool when the flexible plastic tube containeris wound on the spool from the bottom thereof.

In use, the container holder is fitted over the flexible plastic tubecontainer from the bottom thereof and the bottom of the tube containeris received an locked in the slot of the spool. Then, while holding thetube container with one hand, the user can rotate the spool in onedirection to wind up the tube container. With this winding, thehigh-viscosity liquid is squeezed out from a spout of the tubecontainer. During that time, the container holder tends to rotatetogether with the spool due to the friction acting between the spool andthe bearing portions of the container holder. However, rotation of thecontainer holder is prevented by one of the engagement portions which isheld in abutment with the tube container. Thus, the tube container canbe wound on the spool stably and reliably. When the user releases thespool, the spool is urged to rotate in the reverse direction by aresilient force stored in a portion of the tube container wound on thespool body. In this instance, however, partly due to a friction actingbetween the spool body and the bearing portions of the container holder,and partly due to the abutting engagement between the other of theengagement portions and the tube container, the spool is held immovablerelative to the container holder and also to the tube container. Thus,the tube container is firmly held in position against unwinding.

The bearing portions have a pair of aligned bearing holes having adiameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the spool, and aplurality of slits extending radially outwardly from each of the bearingholes. The spool received in the bearing holes is rotatable against afriction acting between the spool body and the bearing portions.

The squeezing tool may further include a friction means disposed on atleast one of the spool and the bearing portions for producing a frictionacting between the spool and the bearing portions to prevent the spoolfrom rotating in the opposite direction relative to the bearingportions. The friction means comprises a roughened outer surface of aportion of the spool supported by each of the bearing portions or a rowof teeth formed on an outer peripheral surface of the spool at a portionsupported by each of the bearing portions. The roughened surface and theteeth on the spool may be used solely or in combination with a row ofteeth formed on a peripheral wall of the bearing hole.

In addition, the bearing portions may have a generally C shape and eachinclude a cutout recess contiguous to the bearing hold. The spool canreadily be assembled with the container holder by forcing the spool bodyinto snap-in-fitting with the bearing holes through the cut-out recessesin the bearing portions.

The container holder includes a rectangular hollow holder body having anelongate strip which is separable from the remainder of the holder bodyand can be locked with the remainder of the holder body. The containerholder thus constructed can be developed or spread into a substantiallyflat configuration. The spreadable container holder can easily bemanufactured by molding and is easy to transport.

It is preferable that the container holder is formed of a resilientlydeformable material. The resiliently deformable container holder is ableto entirely squeeze out the high-viscosity liquid from the tubecontainer.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whenmaking reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheetsof drawing in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating theprinciples of the present invention are shown by way of illustrativeexamples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool for squeezing out ahigh-viscosity liquid from a flexible plastic tube container accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the squeezing tool;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III--III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the body of a spool having afriction means;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified form of thefriction means which is provided on the body of a spool and the bearingportion of a container holder of a squeezing tool;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a bearing portion of a container holderaccording to another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the squeezing tool shown in FIG. 1as it is used with a flexible plastic tube container for squeezing out ahigh-viscosity liquid from the tube container; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a high-viscosity liquid squeezing toolaccording to another embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be described below in greater detail with referencecertain preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 through 3 show a squeezing tool 10 according to a firstembodiment of this invention. The squeezing tool 10 generally comprisesa spool 12 on which a flexible plastic tube container T containing ahigh-viscosity liquid such as a sealant is wound from the bottomthereof, and a container holder 14 for holding the tube container Tagainst rotation relative to the reel 12. The flexible plastic tubecontainer T suitable for use with the sealant includes a laminated tubehaving a moisture-proof film such as an aluminum foil, and apolyethylene tube.

The spool 12 includes a tubular spool body 16 and a grip portion 18 inthe form of a wing handle formed integrally with an end of the spoolbody 16 for rotating the spool body 16. The spool body 16 has alongitudinal slot 20 for receiving and locking therein a bottom end ofthe tube container T.

The container holder 14 includes a rectangular hollow holder body 22 forholding therein a body of the tube container T, and a pair of opposedbearing portions 24, 24 projecting rearward from opposite sides of theholder body 22 for rotatably supporting thereon the spool body 16. Theholder body 22 has upper and lower engagement strips 22a and 22b and apair of opposed side plates (not designated) interconnecting theengagement strips 22a, 22b at opposite ends. The engagement strips 22a,22b are engageable with the body of the flexible plastic tube containerT when the tube container T is wound on the spool body 16 for a purposedescribed below. The bearing portions 24 have a pair of aligned bearingholes 26, respectively, through which the spool body 16 extends. Thecontainer holder 14 is made from a synthetic resin and resilientlydeformable as a hole. Preferably, the upper engagement strip 22a or thelower engagement strip 22b is separable from one of the side plates ofthe holder body 22 and can be locked, by snap-fitting for example, withthe same side plate so that the container holder 14 can be developed orspread into a substantially flat single sheet. The spreadable containerholder can readily be manufactured by molding and is handy to transport.

The bearing holes 26 of the respective bearing portions 24 have adiameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the spool body16. Each of the bearing portions 24 has a plurality of slits 28extending radially outwardly from the corresponding bearing hole 26. Thespool body 16 is press-fitted into the bearing holes 26 so that thespool body 16 is rotatable against a friction acting between the spoolbody 16 and the peripheral walls of the bearing holes 26. The spool body16 may have two or more longitudinal slots 20 in which instance thespool body 16 is radially inwardly deformable when it is press-fittedinto the bearing holes 26 of the container holder 14. In addition, thespool body 16 is rotatable against friction acting between the spoolbody 16 and the peripheral walls of the bearing holes 26. The slits 28in the bearing portions 24 may be omitted. In the case of the spool body16 having a single longitudinal slot 20, it is preferable that the spoolbody 16 is made from a resilient material and capable of resilientlycontracting and expanding in the radial direction.

In the embodiment described above, the bearing holes 26 have a circularshape. This is not restrictive but illustrative. The bearing holes 26may have any other shape including polygon on condition that a frictionis produced between the spool body 16 of the spool 12 and the peripheralwalls of the bearing holes 26 when the spool body 16 is caused to rotateand also while the spool body 16 is rotating.

The squeezing tool 10 may further have a friction means or element forexerting a friction on the spool body 16 when the spool body 16 iscaused to rotate. The friction means may be provided on either one orboth of the peripheral walls of the bearing holes 26 an the spool body16. As shown in FIG. 4, the friction means may comprise a roughenedouter surface 16a formed by a satin-like finish on a portion of thespool body 16 which is received in each of the bearing holes 26.Alternatively, the friction means may include, as shown in FIG. 5, a rowof teeth 16b formed on the outer surface of the spool body 16 at aportion received in each bearing hole 26 and/or a row of teeth 26aformed on the peripheral wall of each bearing hole 26. The bearingportion 24 shown in FIG. 5 is generally C shaped. The friction means16a, 16b, 26a thus provided produces a friction which acts between thespool body 16 and the bearing portions 24, and is large enough toprevent reverse rotation of the spool body 16 which would otherwiseoccur when the spool body 16 is subjected to a resilient force stored ina portion of the flexible plastic tube container wound on the spool body16. The friction means shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are not restrictive butillustrative. The roughened surface 16a shown in FIG. 4 may be providedon the peripheral wall of each bearing hole 26 in which instance theroughened surface 16a may further be used in combination with the teeth16b on the spool body 16 shown in FIG. 6. The teeth 26a on theperipheral wall of each bearing hole 26 may be used in combination withthe roughened surface 16a on the spool body 16.

The bearing portion 24 shown in FIG. 6 is generally C shaped and has acutout recess 30 contiguous to a bearing hole 26 in the C-shaped bearingportion 24. The C-shaped bearing portion 24 is advantageous over theannular bearing portion 24 shown in FIG. 1 in that the spool (not shownbut identical with the spool 12 shown in FIG. 1) can readily beassembled with the container holder 14 by simply snapping the spool body16 into the bearing holes 26 (only one shown) through the cutoutrecesses 30 (only one shown). The bearing holes 26 has a diameterslightly smaller than the outside diameter of the spool body 16 so thatthe spool body 16 is rotatable relative to the bearing portions 24against friction acting therebetween.

The squeezing tool 10 of the foregoing construction is used and operatesin a manner described follows. The container holder body 22 of thesqueezing tool 10 is fitted over a bottom end portion of the tubecontainer T, and then the bottom end of the tube container T is receivedand locked in the slot 20 in the spool 12. While holding the tubecontainer T with its one hand, the user rotates the wing handle 18 inone direction to progressively wind up the tube container T on the spoolbody 16 from the bottom end of the tube container T. With this winding,a high-viscosity liquid C is squeezed out from the tube container Tthrough a nozzle N screwed to a spout of the tube container T, as shownin FIG. 7. During that time, the container holder 14 tends to rotate inthe same direction (winding direction) as the spool body 16, however,rotation of the container holder never occurs because the containerholder is kept immovable due to the abutting engagement between theengagement strip 22a with the tube container T. When the wing handle 18is released, the spool 12 is urged to rotate in the opposite directionby a resilient force stored in a portion of the tube container T woundon the spooled body 16. However, partly due to a friction acting betweenthe spool body 16 and the bearing portions 24, and partly due to theabutting engagement between the engagement strip 22b and the tubecontainer T, the spool body 16 is kept immovable against rotationrelative to the container holder 14. The reverse rotation of the spoolbody 16 can be avoided more positively when the squeezing tool isprovided with at least one of the friction means 16a, 16b and 26a shownin FIGS. 4 and 5. Instead of holding the tube container T, the containerholder 14 may be held by the user while the tube container is wound onthe spool 12 of the squeezing tool 10.

FIG. 8 shows a squeezing tool according to another embodiment of thisinvention. This squeezing tool differs in the structure of a containerholder 14 from the squeezing tool of the foregoing embodiment shown inFIG. 1. The container holder 14 has a rectangular hollow body 22composed of a pair of opposed side plates 24. 24, and upper and lowerelongate plates 32, 32 interconnected by the side plates 24, 24. Theside plates 24 constitute bearing portions frictionally and rotatablysupporting thereon the spool body 16. The container holder 14 furtherincludes a pair of engagement wings 32a, 32b integral with andprojecting from front edges of the upper and lower plates 32, 32,respectively. When the squeezing tool is in use, the engagement wings32a, 32b are engageable with a body of the tube container T to preventthe tube container T from rotating about a longitudinal axis of thespool body 16.

The squeezing tool shown in FIG. 8 operates in the same manner as thesqueezing tool 10 of the foregoing embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 7and, therefore, a further description thereof can be omitted.

As described above, the squeezing tool of this invention includes aspool frictionally and rotatably supported by a container holder, and apair of opposed engagement portions formed on the container holder forengagement with a flexible plastic tube container. The spool is manuallyrotated in one direction against a friction acting between a spool bodyand bearing portions of the container holder, so as to wind up the tubecontainer on the spool body from the bottom thereof. With this winding,a high-viscosity liquid is squeezed out from the tube container. When amanual rotational force or torque on the spool is released, a resilientforce stored in a portion of the flexible plastic tube container urgesthe spool to turn in the opposite direction. However, partly due to thefriction acting between the spool body and the bearing portions, andpartly due to the engagement between one of the engagement portions andthe tube container, the spool is held immovable relative to thecontainer holder and, hence, unwinding of the tube container can neveroccur.

Obviously various minor changes and modifications of the presentinvention are possible in the light of the above teaching. It istherefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claimsthe invention may be practiced otherwise than a specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool for squeezing out a high-viscosity liquidfrom a soft plastic tube container, said tool comprising:a spool havinga longitudinal slot for receiving and locking therein a bottom of thesoft plastic tube container; a pair of opposed bearing portions formedso as to frictionally engage and rotatably support said spool; and apair of opposed engagement portions integral with said bearing portionsand engageable with the tube container wherein said bearing portions inconjunction with said engagement portions keep the tube containerimmovable against rotation about a longitudinal axis of said spool whenthe flexible plastic tube container is wound on said spool from thebottom thereof, wherein each of said bearing portions has a bearing holeopposingly aligned with each other, each bearing hole having a diameterslightly smaller than the outside diameter of said spool and a pluralityof slits extending radially outwardly therefrom, and said bearingportions and engagement portions are formed of a resiliently deformablematerial.
 2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said engagementportions include a pair of opposed elongate strips and a pair of opposedside plates interconnecting the elongate strips at opposite ends, saidbearing portions projecting contiguously from the side plates of saidengagement portions.
 3. A tool according to claim 2, wherein one of theelongate plates is detachably connectable to one of the side plates andlockable when connected to the one side plate.
 4. A tool according toclaim 1, further comprising:a pair of opposed elongate plates whereinsaid bearing portions include a pair of opposed side platesinterconnecting said elongate plates at opposite ends, and saidengagement portions include a pair of opposed engagement wings eachprojecting from a forward side edge of a corresponding elongate plate.5. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said spool includes a tubularbody and is resiliently contractible in a radial direction.
 6. A toolaccording to claim 1, wherein said spool has an integral handle at oneend thereof. .Iadd.
 7. A tool for squeezing out a high-viscosity liquidfrom a soft plastic tube container, said tool comprising:a spool havinga longitudinal slot for receiving and locking therein a bottom of thesoft plastic tube container; a pair of opposed bearing portions formedso as to frictionally engage and rotatably support said spool; a pair ofopposed engagement portions integral with said bearing portions andengageable with the tube container wherein said bearing portions inconjunction with said engagement portions keep the tube containerimmovable against rotation about a longitudinal axis of said spool whenthe flexible plastic tube container is wound on said spool from thebottom thereof; said bearing portions being generally C shaped, each ofsaid C shaped bearing portions having a bearing hole and a cutout recesscontiguous to the bearing hole, said spool being snap-fitted into thebearing hole through the cut-out recess; and friction means disposed onat least one of said spool and said bearing portions for producingfriction acting between said spool and said bearing portions, saidfriction means being formed so as to prevent said spool from rotating inan opposite direction relative to said bearing portions..Iaddend..Iadd.8. A tool according to claim 7, wherein said frictionmeans includes a roughened outer surface of a portion of said spoolsupported by each of said bearing portions. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. A toolaccording to claim 7, wherein said friction means includes a row ofteeth formed on a peripheral wall of said bearing holes..Iaddend..Iadd.10. A tool according to claim 7, wherein said frictionmeans includes a roughened outer surface of a portion of said spoolsupported by each of said bearing portions and a row of teeth formed ona peripheral wall of said bearing holes. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. A toolaccording to claim 7, wherein said engagement portions includes a pairof opposed elongate strips and a pair of opposed side platesinterconnecting the elongate strips at opposite ends, said bearingportions projecting contiguously from the side plates of said engagementportions. .Iaddend.